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Condé Nast Traveler Readers Vote 21c Museum Hotels to Top 100 Hotels in the World Posted on 10.15.13

21c Cincinnati Debuts as #1 Hotel in the U.S. and #11 Internationally

PRESS RELEASE – 21c Museum Hotel in Cincinnati has been named the #1 hotel in the United States and #11 worldwide in the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, with 21c Museum Hotel Louisville ranking #8 in the country and #46 in the world and 21c Museum Hotel Bentonville debuting at #11 in the country and #75 internationally. The awards appear in the November issue and are the results of the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice survey with an unprecedented 1.3 million votes cast this year by nearly 80,000 participants. Each hotel was also ranked as a top destination in its region, with 21c Cincinnati listed as #1 Hotel in the Midwest and 21c Louisville and 21c Bentonville earning the #1 and #2 spots respectively as the Top Hotels in the South, which also includes such properties as the St. Regis Atlanta, Ritz-Carlton Charlotte and Blackberry Farm in Tennessee. The rankings are based on the quality of rooms, service, food and dining, location and overall design.

“We are thrilled that our two newest properties, both of which opened in the past year, have debuted so high on this list and that Louisville continues to rank as a top hotel for its sixth year running,” said Steve Wilson, Founder and CEO of 21c Museum Hotels. “Receiving such high honors shows us that guests are looking beyond the typical hotel experience, and that our mission to enhance the travel experience through contemporary art and cultural experiences resonates with travelers near and far.”

Founded in 2006 in Louisville, Kentucky, 21c Museum Hotel was created by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, arts patrons and preservationists who had a vision for bringing art into people’s daily lives and supporting the revitalization of their hometown. Their flagship property combines a 90-room boutique hotel, contemporary art museum, award-winning restaurant Proof on Main led by executive chef Levon Wallace and cultural civic center in the heart of downtown Louisville. With 9,000 square feet of art-filled meeting and event space, 21c guests enjoy authentic Southern hospitality while exploring the work of contemporary artists.

Due to the success of its first property, 21c Museum Hotels expanded, unveiling properties in Cincinnati, Ohio (November 2012), and Bentonville, Arkansas (February 2013), and plans have been announced for properties in Lexington, Kentucky, and Durham, North Carolina. 21c Cincinnati opened in the 100-year-old former Metropole Hotel building in the heart of downtown’s arts and entertainment district, offering 8,000 square feet of exhibition and meeting space, multi-media site-specific art installations, 156 rooms, a spa and rooftop Cocktail Terrace. The property also features Metropole restaurant led by chef Michael Paley. 21c Bentonville, located just north of the city’s historic square and a quarter mile from the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, is a 104-room hotel featuring 12,000 square feet of exhibition space solely dedicated to exhibiting art of the 21st century and is also home to The Hive restaurant led by executive chef and Arkansas native Matthew McClure.

Contemporary art is integral to the experience of 21c Museum Hotels. Chief Curator and Director of Art Programming Alice Gray Stites, along with a dedicated museum team, organize rotating exhibitions that feature the work of nationally and internationally acclaimed artists alongside that of local artists. Site-specific installations and commissioned works complement the curated exhibitions, providing guests an opportunity to discover the work of today’s living artists throughout the properties, from the elevators and hallways to the public restrooms, restaurants and bars. 21c Museum Hotels is the only entity in North America dedicated to collecting and exhibiting art of the 21st century and open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

About 21c Museum Hotels21c Museum Hotels was founded by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, contemporary art collectors and preservationists who are committed to bringing works of art to the public through innovative exhibitions and programs that integrate contemporary art into daily life. These goals, coupled with their desire to participate in the revitalization of downtown Louisville led them to open the first property in 2006. Each 21c is unique in its site-specific art installations, architecture, design and restaurant. With a commitment to bringing works of art to the public that ignite the mind and fuel creativity, the museum exhibition space is integrated seamlessly throughout each property. There are opportunities to discover art around every corner of 21c: in the restaurant and bar, on the in-room Video Art Channel, in elevator lobbies, hallways, and even the public restrooms. With the success of the Louisville property came opportunities for growth. 21c has opened hotels in Cincinnati, OH and Bentonville, AR and plans have been announced for properties in Durham, NC and Lexington, KY. 21c Museum presents a range of arts programming including thought-provoking solo and group exhibitions that reflect the global nature of art today, site-specific, commissioned installations as well as a variety of cultural programming. The museum is open free of charge to the public 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.